Ball-trap



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(NoModeL) M. WARNE.

Ball Trap.

No. 228,959. Patented June 15,1880.

' UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

MAHLON WARNE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALL-TRA P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,959, dated June 15, 1880.

Application filed March 29, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I,MAHLON WARNE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Traps for Projecting Artificialtrap, showing the same set for operation;

Fig. 2, a side view of the trap, showing the same sprung; Fig. 3, an end view, partly in section; and Fig. 4, a sectional plan on the line 1 2, Fig. 1.

A represents the base of the trap, which is so constructed that it can be readily secured to the ground or to a suitable support. A tubular stud, a, is secured to and projects upward from the center of the base A, said stud being adapted to a central opening formed in a drum, B. Around the periphery of this drum B is wound a cord, b, by pulling upon which the drum is caused to rotate, owing to the unwinding of the cord. The drum may be turned backward by hand, so as to again wind up the cord, or the latter may be secured at its center to the drum and wound in both directions thereon, leaving two projecting ends, by pulling upon one of which the drum may be turned in one direction, while by pulling upon the other the drum may be turned in the opposite direction.

D is a bar, one edge of which is hinged to the top of the drum B, the opposite edge of the bar being provided with threaded stems adapted to slots in segmental plates 0 projecting from the drum, the stems being provided with thumb-nuts f, so that the bar D may be adjusted to any desired angle in respect to the drum B and base A, and firmly secured in position after adjustment.

The bar D has two standards, E E, which carry a transverse shaft, 9, and to the latter-a lever, F, is hung, so as to turn freely on the shaft. A pin, i, projects laterally from each side of the short arm of this lever F, and to V serves as a stop or support for the ballor other target to be thrown by the trap, said target being constructed with a central opening, so that it will fit over and slide freely on the long arm of the lever. The latter has a hook, s, to which, in setting the trap, is adapted a pin, it, on the short arm of a lever, M, hung to standards on the bar D, a cord, 00, being connected. to the long arm of this lever and passing through the central tubular stud, a.

In operating the trap the bar 1) is first set at the desired angle in respect to the drum B and base A and secured in position. The lever F is then adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 1, and retained by the engagement of the pin 1? of the lever M with the hook s.

The ball or other target being applied to the long arm of the lever and resting upon the button or washer n, the trap is sprung by the attendant, who pulls upon the cord as and releases the lever F from the control of the lever M, whereupon the contraction of the elastic bands G causes a rapid movement of the lever F in the direction of the arrow, the target sliding on the long arm of the lever, and being projected from the end of said arm in a course tangential to the arc of a circle in which said end moves.

The course taken by the target will depend upon the particular position of the lever F when said target leaves the long arm of the same. Thus the sooner the target is thrown from the lever after the latter commences to move the more upright will be its flight, while the longer the target is retained on the lever the more nearly will its flight assume a horizontal course.

The character of the flight of the target will therefore depend upon the position to which it is adjusted on the lever F before the latter is released, and, owing to the adjustability of the button or washer n, this position can be very readily changed as desired.

The direction in which the target is thrown is governed by pulling upon the cord 1) so as to cause a rotation or partial rotation of the drum B and bar D, this movement being effected either simultaneously with or immediately before the release of the lever F.

The direction and the character of the targets flight are thus entirely within the control of the person who operates the trap, and cannot be predetermined by the marksman.

By setting the bar D at an angle in respect to the base A the projection of the target in a course directly in line with the plane of movement of the lever is prevented, said target being thrown off at an angle-that is to say, having a lateral movement as well as a forward and rising movement, so that its flight closely resembles the flight of an actual bird,

a higher degree of marksmanship being demanded in shooting at a target thus thrown than is required in shooting at glass balls or targets thrown from traps as heretofore constructed.

In carrying out myinvention the exact construction shown and described need not be adhered to in all cases. For instance, an arm secured to the shaft g might be substituted for the lever F, the shaft in this case being acted upon by a spring, or possessing an inherent spring sufficient to operate the arm, and the bar D may be fixed in respect to the base A instead of being adjustable in respect thereto.

By permitting the target to slide on the spring arm or lever, as described, the risk of breaking said target when it is made of glass or fragile material is reduced to a minimum, owing to the fact that the target leaves the arm or lever before the movement of the latter is checked by the strap J, no shock being necessary in order to insure the projection of the target.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a base, a pivoted springarm or lever constructed, as described, so as to permit a target to slide on and be projected therefrom, and devices for retaining and releasing said arm or lever, as set forth.

2. The combination of a base, a pivoted spring arm or lever having an adjustable stop, a, and constructed so as to permita target to slide on and be projected therefrom, and devices for retaining and releasing said arm or lever, as set forth.

3. The combination of the base-plate with a pivoted spring arm or lever the pivot-shaft of which is inclined in respect to the base, the lever being constructed, as desoribed,-so as to permit a target to slide on and be projected tangentially therefrom, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of a pivoted spring arm or lever constructed, as described, so as to permit a target to slide on and be projected tangentially therefrom, a base, A, a bar, D, hinged thereto, and having bearings for the pivotshaft of said spring arm or lever, and devices, substantially as described, for retaining said bar D in different positions in respect to the base, as specified.

5. The combination of the bar D, the lever F, springs for acting thereon, a check-strap, J, connected to the short arm of the lever, and an elastic ring, m, interposed between said strap and the bar D, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAHLON WARNE.

Witnesses:

JAMES F. ToBIN, HARRY SMITH. 

